School of Medicine celebrates 20 years of public contributions to health and care

Members of the public who have contributed to Keele University’s health research over two decades have been honoured at a special anniversary showcase event. 

Hosted by the Impact Accelerator Unit in Keele’s School of Medicine, the event was held at the Doubletree by Hilton in Stoke on Trent to celebrate two decades of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) at Keele, with all the learning and achievement that public involvement in research has enabled. 

Keele Research User Group started in 2006 with just eight members involved in musculoskeletal research, and it has now grown to 250 people. Now called the People and Communities group, members of the public advise researchers in the School of Medicine on living with a range of physical and mental health conditions. Public involvement is now hosted by the Impact Accelerator Unit and coordinated by the People and Communities Team, who co-produced the event with public members.  

The 80 guests who attended the day included members of the public who have worked with the university over the past 20 years, charity partners, community leaders, funders, researchers and academics past and present, public involvement professionals and professional services staff. 

The showcase highlighted stand out moments over the past 20 years of PPIE at Keele, starting with a look at the early years and how public involvement supported Keele’s bid to become an Arthritis UK Centre of Excellence status. The celebration also highlighted the development of the Impact Accelerator Unit, and public involvement in knowledge mobilisation, with a focus on the ongoing collaboration with the NIHR School for Primary Care Research and the power of community partnerships. 

Vice Chancellor Professor Kevin Shakesheff, who opened the event, highlighted the importance of engaging with the public and communities as the foundation to impactful research.  

The event also included a special public contributors’ panel and an interactive session shaping the next 20 years of public involvement.  

Christina Farrall, a public contributor who was part of the organising committee said: “It has been a pleasure to be involved in hosting this event and in bringing together a wide range of people who have been so important to the public involvement work at Keele over the last 20 years for a well-deserved celebration.”

Professor Krysia Dziedzic, Associate PVC Research and Impact, Director of the Impact Accelerator Unit said: “It’s my privilege to thank the NIHR School for Primary Care Research and the members of the Impact Accelerator Unit for co-funding and co-producing the School of Medicine’s 20-year celebration of public partnerships in health and care research.  

“Public members and communities are Keele’s constant research and impact companions. I offer heartfelt thanks to them for life changing, inclusive research and impact that benefits populations locally, nationally and globally.”